A Shot From The Dark

= Episode 3-2 =

So I wandered into the main
courtyard of the Blue Moon State Correctional Facility. After a quick look
around for troll-assassins, I headed over to the warden's office. I hadn't
noticed anyone else around just yet. I knew something was wrong when I turned a
corner and saw the security lights on. Generally, we like it dark... Over Gold
Channel comes a message that our command key was taken so I switch into
overdrive and sprint towards the office. I see this guy rushing out the door
towards me and plop a couple grenades at him. I am way out of practice as they
fly over his head. One catches the door frame and rebounds at my feet! I leap
away as the blast throws me into the library. I can hear the bastard laughing
at me as I lie there bleeding from my ears and it goes dark.

As I come to, I realize that I have been teleported over to the
hospital at the far end of the prison. This actually works out well as I am now
in the very building that thief is running towards. I run out of the infirmary
and meet the guy in the middle of the courtyard. He is jumping and
side-stepping like crazy since this big ugly teammate of mine with a minigun is
trying his best to tenderize him. I leap into the fray and immediately start
backpedalling to avoid a grenade that this leaping pixie just dropped. It is
either a flash grenade or one of those concussion grenades that we all love so
much. I am just late as the concussion hits me and pushes me back into a wall.
I feel like Jon Voight at the end of "The Champ." I squeeze my eyes
shut and try to force the vertigo down but it gets the better of me. I am
leaning against the wall, praying for death as the gas claxon goes off. I try
and get back into the hospital but that ugly brute with the autocannon is there
ahead of me. The gas is released and sweet sleep enfolds me.

I guess it was a good thing that I was so close to the aid station as
I awake to a grenade launcher being pressed into my gut and I am ushered out
into the fray again. The drugs they pumped me full of have sharpened my senses
as I sprint back to the warden's office. In the courtyard I pass the riddled
corpse of that scout, his beret looking like a red sponge. Yick. I flip a
switch and set the grenade launcher to command-detonation mode and lay a pile of
6 just inside the warden's door. I crouch down to find some music for the
stereo just as the warning lights snap on again. I sidestep to my right and get
behind the speakers as the scout runs into the room. I pause for a second as he
grabs the key and makes for the door. The look on his face as he realizes the
mistake he made is priceless. I mash the detonator briskly 3 times and the
explosion turns the room into a scene out of "The Shining." All I
need now are those freaky twin girls asking me to come play with them... The
key drops to the floor and I wipe the gore from my hands. I figure I have
enough time so I run over to the emergency room for a hosedown.